One of the major concerns many of us have with sun exposure is that we fear it will make our skin age faster. While there is good reason behind this concern, there are some important subtleties to consider.
Over-exposing our skin to sun certainly has downsides for ageing, but that doesn’t mean that any sun at all will accelerate ageing. Healthy levels of Vitamin D reduce inflammation and slow the rate of ageing, so without enough, we will age faster and less gracefully. Skin needs Vitamin D to be healthy, and healthy skin ages slower.
The starting material for Vitamin D, called Provitamin D, is part of sebum – the natural oils produced by our skin. However, as we age, our skin makes less Provitamin D. By the time we’re 70 years old, we produce half of what we did when we were 20. This makes the elderly more susceptible to Vitamin D deficiency.
Healthy sun exposure maintains Vitamin D levels and helps us age more gracefully – though we’re led to believe otherwise by much of the marketing in the skincare industry.
For the best ageing outcomes, it’s worth asking yourself: “How can I support healthy levels of Vitamin D in my skin as I age?”
